Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Offline]

Imagine how good Pogacar would be with a team.
Again yesterday - embarrassing how bad the team around him is.
On paper good, but riders like Formolo and Majka are a shadow of themself.
UAE has had time finding good solid domestiques..

Okay respect, Formolo!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

We may not have seen such strong GT performances from 22year olds, but until recently the teams of elite 22year olds held them back from being leader at GTs.

For a reason, 22 yo cyclists are usually not strong or consistent enough to win a GT. Not a long time ago 22 yo guys were only learning how to ride in the peleton. What Pogacar or Evenepoel are doing is not normal by any means. They are phenoms.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Too early, Dekker.

Is he already better than peak Contador and Froome? Id still take 2009 Contador over him, I think. And winning 7 TdFs in the manner Armstrong did, you cant really put Pogi above than either IMO. Not like Lance defended in the mountains, at least not the first mountain range.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't know about your books of conventional cycling aging but mine are long burned and scattered

 

[Red Rick]

Too early, Dekker.

Is he already better than peak Contador and Froome? Id still take 2009 Contador over him, I think. And winning 7 TdFs in the manner Armstrong did, you cant really put Pogi above than either IMO. Not like Lance defended in the mountains, at least not the first mountain range.

It's a bit weird to look at just climbing times, which is where Pogacar is objectively better now that probably even 2009 Contador. But for dominance compared to the rest of the field he isn't. Pogacr is better in the hills though.

 

[Ripper]

It is difficult to know what will happen. Until he does it again, he isn't that much different to Bernal from a year earlier. I mean, people were probably talking about Bernal 12 months ago, in a similar way to Pogacar now. I know that the Slovenian's level appears higher, but the peloton has gotten faster in general; I'm not sure if Pogacar in the last 12 months has been anymore dominant than Bernal (when compared to their rivals) was in the season before that.

Well, there is the fact that he is setting climbing records last year and this. And significant ones. While blasting the competition.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It's a bit weird to look at just climbing times, which is where Pogacar is objectively better now that probably even 2009 Contador. But for dominance compared to the rest of the field he isn't. Pogacr is better in the hills though.

Contador in 2009 had VAM close to 1900 m/h on Verbier, historically one of very few TdF climbs faster than Poga's Peyresourde or PDBF.

 

[Red Rick]

Contador in 2009 had VAM close to 1900 m/h on Verbier, historically one of very few TdF climbs faster than Poga's Peyresourde or PDBF.

True. Verbier stage was easier though.

Overall, I don't see Pogacar really as a pure climber, and he might be slightly less dominant in the greatest mountain stages or on the biggest climbs, but that difference won't be gigantic either.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Contador was never that amazing on the greatest mountain stages either though, he was more of an explosive 1 climb rider

 

[Red Rick]

Contador was never that amazing on the greatest mountain stages either though, he was more of an explosive 1 climb rider

The riders that are noticably better on the huge stages than the typical mountain stages is pretty low IMO.

 

[Forever The Best]

Contador also has the second fastest time on Plateau de Beille with Rasmussen, from 2007. Only Pantani 1998 was faster. Peak Pogi may be better though.

 

[johnymax]

He is on another level right now. I'm looking forward to see how he'll do in Itzulia (hopefully a battle with a healthy Roglič) and the Ardennes. I'm starting to think he's almost unbeatable in a GT if he has no bad luck. At least it's starting to look like it.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

True. Verbier stage was easier though.

Overall, I don't see Pogacar really as a pure climber, and he might be slightly less dominant in the greatest mountain stages or on the biggest climbs, but that difference won't be gigantic either.

Pogacar doesn't look like a pure climber at all. He looks more like an all-rounder or GT specialist, who's strong on various terrain: mountains, hills and TT. He looked big compared to Yates yesterday.

 

[Ripper]

Contador also has the second fastest time on Plateau de Beille with Rasmussen, from 2007. Only Pantani 1998 was faster. Peak Pogi may be better though.

Lol.
Referencing extraterrestrial performances. Times they are interesting!

 

[Oldermanish]

Random question. Are there any pictures of this guy - excluding TTs - where he does not have a bunch of hairs randomly sticking out of his helmet? It seems to be kind of his trademark.

You mean the Slovenian Vortex generators? Ssssshhhhh. Only he and Roglic can employ them.

 

[Rollthedice]

Pogacar doesn't look like a pure climber at all. He looks more like an all-rounder or GT specialist, who's strong on various terrain: mountains, hills and TT. He looked big compared to Yates yesterday.

He is big. Wait till he loses the fat.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Lol.
Referencing extraterrestrial performances. Times they are interesting!

Interestingly Alpe d'Huez is missing in the 3rd consecutive TdF edition. It hasn't happened since 1976. I feel that on a good day Pogi's time there would be on Armstrong level (beaten only by Pantani). Well, maybe the French don't want Alpe back...

 

[Netserk]

It is rumoured for next year.

 

[Red Rick]

It is rumoured for next year.

Can't we saddle for Iban Mayos record?

 

[Escarabajo]

Interestingly Alpe d'Huez is missing in the 3rd consecutive TdF edition. It hasn't happened since 1976. I feel that on a good day Pogi's time there would be on Armstrong level (beaten only by Pantani). Well, maybe the French don't want Alpe back...

No kidding. Imagine they pull the power meter out of his bike so that he goes full power and ends up in company of Pantani.

 

[Scarponi]

Are Pogas times faster up climbs because they have big trains driving the pace these days at the start of the climbs, where as Contador rarely had that pace being brutal before he went or is it just purely Pogacar climbing faster sitting down than a guy who had to climb out of the saddle full ball for his times.

I haven't looked at the numbers just asking,

 

[Escarabajo]

I have seen trains for a long time now. And it has been used as an explanation many, many times in the past.

 

[jfazendeiro]

Looking at 2018:
Wout debuts in Strade Bianchi
Sagan takes his last monument and Froome his last GT.
Pogacar wins L'Avenir

 

[Oldermanish]

He is big. Wait till he loses the fat.

Apparently he shed a little today chasing Wout for 20+km. He's got some power and just a little baby fat.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Well, there is the fact that he is setting climbing records last year and this. And significant ones. While blasting the competition.

Blasting? He was taking 10-30 seconds on Porte in MTF's last year (and breaking even with Roglic). Whereas say Armstrong was taking 30 plus seconds on Ullrich on almost every MTF.